Donetsk People's Republic Leader Denis Pushilin's Car Blown Up in City Square

A car for Denis Pushilin, the self-proclaimed leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, exploded in the middle of the city on Thursday.

“Pushilin’s car was blown up. Three bodyguards were injured. He was not in the vehicle,” spokeswoman Klavdiya Kulbatskaya told AFP.

Here are tweets, pictures, and video of the explosion.

Reports from colleagues on scene suggest explosion originated in a vehicle near admin building. No casualties known so far #Donetsk #Ukraine

— Harriet Salem (@HarrietSalem) June 12, 2014

A van, supposedly filled with arms for separatist militia, explodes in central #Donetsk via @VoiceOfDonetsk pic.twitter.com/6hfmNoZSGj

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) June 12, 2014

Definitely a car bomb, damage to trees, but the admin building, in all its glory, still intact. Score settling among the separatists? Kiev?

— John Reed (@JohninJerusalem) June 12, 2014

Donetsk People’s Republic say Pushilin’s bus was blown up, without him in it. 4 injured, 1 critical. Second assassination attempt this week.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 12, 2014

Down Donetsk administration building shortly after the explosion pic.twitter.com/TWbZ6iADD3

— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) June 12, 2014

7 injured, 2 seriously in tonight’s explosion #Donetsk Governor’s office says. #Ukraine

— Harriet Salem (@HarrietSalem) June 12, 2014

Pushilin is still in Moscow. The Donetsk People’s Republic declared independence from Ukraine after a May 11 referendum allegedly showed 90% of the population wanted to be their own republic. The referendum was filled with voting violations.